read any good books lately?

[Candy]

Hi everyone!
I was wondering what you are currently reading or have read recently and enjoyed? Having just read several by Joanne Harris (Chocolat and Blackberry Wine) and two history books by Giles Milton (Nathaniel's Nutmeg and Big Chief Elizabeth) I'm stuck for what to read next. Any suggestions much appreciated!

Found 'After You'd Gone' by Maggie O'Farrell in a charity shop so thought I'd give her another chance. OK, this was a lot better, her description of grief had me up most of last night crying. BUT, there wsan't any suspense, not quite sure if there should have been. There were no real surprises, was rather disappointed that she hadn't found Mario hanging in the station bogs

However, if anyone else has read it - the ending? I'm sure it was meant to be deliberately ambiguous but...(without giving this away) was it good news for her or not?

Reading Lovely Bones now, it's brilliant.

Plus, I still think her women are very humourless. The descriptions always look like her ish which makes me think she is rather humourless

I've just discovered audio books, having lost the will (or energy) to read since having dd.

I am almost through the Spoils of Time trilogy by Penny Vincenzi - absolutely love it, and it can be done whilst I achieve the ironing. Double whammy!!

Sambom - nearly bought it last night - thought may be really sad though??

Lovely Bones is good (IMHO). I really want to read Lucky but am building myself up to it.

Lovely Bones is the MOST amazing book. Sad in places, but it just lifts you soul at the end!! You should all read it!!!

You know it's really odd but I am not finding it harrowing at all! I have no idea why as I am quite easily harrowed.

Strongly recommend The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Its a mystery novel where the main character/narrator is a 15 year old boy with asperger's syndrome. Its a good and quick read and very original. Having a child with autism myself I found it very sad as I could relate to the parents (but not the boy!). WOuld like to know what others think.

Hannah's gift by Maria Housden. about little girl with cancer, sad, but inspiring to read. cried a few times.
Normally a forensicy type reader - Kathy Reichs, Kellerman, Jeffery Deaver type stuff, but manage non-gory books too.
DH usually goes ugh when he sees what I am reading!

Has anyone read The Life of Pi?
I'd be interested to know how you interpret the ending, and if you liked it!

just read 'Ripe for the picking' by Annie Hawes - follow up to her 'Extra Virgin' book. About her life in Italy - fantastic, very like 'Driving over Lemons', funny, interesting and totally makes you want to go and live that life!

Now reading 'The Red Tent' which got after recommendation from this thread - couldn't get into it at first but now totally hooked.

Over our 2 week holiday I read 5 books and the best were Good Harbour by Anita Diamant and The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears. Both terrific reads. Good harbour isn't as good as The Red Tent, but I still enjoyed it very much

Another vote for the "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" by Alexander McCall Smith.

Fantasticly well written stuff especially for those of us who are pregnant and don't want to read anything upsetting!

There's 4 in the series too...

tonight - I read - 'one woolly wombat' much enjoyed by my audience ( dd 1 y.o) who chuckled all the way through.

Me personally - been reading Heroes by John Pilger - very very enlightening.....

Gem13, you'll be glad to know that there are now five in the No1 Ladies Detective series.

Beetroot, did you read 'A fine Balance' by Rohinton Mistry - one of those books where the characters linger on the mind well after I'd finished the book. I thought it was a really good book but I think I need to be in the right frame of mind before trying any of his other books!

Sis - Cool!

Before reading the other Rohinton Mistry books, be prepared for the fact that 'A Fine Balance' is his best one. One of my favourite books of all time although not great pregnancy reading - far too upsetting! I was really disappointed with 'Family Matters'.

Just read further down the thread. Beetroot enjoyed FM so maybe it was me!

Just read The Pursuit of Happiness by Douglas Kennedy - a real page turner. Not that demanding but not your typical blockbuster either - quite a lot to think about. Also recommend The Sex Life of My Aunt by Mavis Cheek.

birdsong by sebastian faulks - has been around for a while but I just got round to reading it, made me cry so must read charlotte grey next

scoobysnax - read Life of Pi - prefer to think of him being stuck with a tiger!

Didn't think Charlotte Gray was as good myself.

Reading Fragrant Harbour by John Lancaster at the moment, it's really entertaining.

I found the end of the Wind Up Bird Chronicle to be utter drivel I'm sorry to say. I really enjoyed the book but thought the ending was so weak.

I'm reading one called "Special" at the moment. It's about a group of 13/14 year old girls who attend a private school, they go on a 2 week school trip in the summer to some mansion in the countryside and they get up to all sorts. Its actually been quite harrowing! And reminded me of how traumatic it is being a teenage girl: the angst about how you look and what people think of you, watching a friend with an eating disorder waste away and secretly hoping you were ill too so you could be thin, the desperation not to be the last in the group to have kissed, fondled, slept with a guy!!
It reminds me of the hatred that girls can show each other and the bitching that goes on. I'm glad I'm past all that!

I'm halfway through, can't remember the authors name. It's in WHSmith at the moment in the 2 bestsellers for £10 offer.